Railroad-tie



J. H. CO'NNELL.

RAILBQAD TIB.-4

" N0.,595,452. Patent-eamo. 14,5189?.

.Nif

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JoHN H. co'NNELL, or s'rAUNToN, viRcINIA.

RAILROAD-THE.

SPECIFICATION forming part lof Letters Patent No. 595,452, dated December 14, 1897.

` Application filed September 20, 1897. Serial No. 652,320. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. OONNELL, a citizen of the United States,'residin g at Staunton, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains-to make'and use the same.

My invention has relation to railroad-ties; and it has for its object to'provide a durable, indestructible, and-non-combustible tie which may be placed vupon the market at a minimum cost and by means of which the rails may be firmly supported and prevented from springing therefrom'.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying draWings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved railroadtie. Fig. 2 is a similar. view of the parts forming the,Y shell of the tie separated, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view.

In the drawings the tiemsrhown consists of a metallic shell comprising four`\sections the side sections 1 and 2 and the top and bottom sections 3 and 4, respectively. Each side section consists of a longitudinal strip a, bent at right angles to form the end b and then parallel with the strip a., as shown at c. These sections are brought together,with the longitudinal strip a of one section abutting against the end of the short strip c of the other section, thus forming a shell. The bottom section 4 is now placed in the shell and a plastic material, preferably cement, is poured in the shell thus formed. The top 3 is now placed in position and a vertical bolt 5 inserted thro ugh registering apertures 6 and 7 in the top and bottom pieces, while a bolt 8 is inserted through registering apertures in the side sections of the shell. This construction providesa strong and powerful tie, one that is perfectly proof against being burned by the dropping cinders of passing locomotives, and vone whose life is greatly increased over that ofthe ordinary Wooden tie.

In order to hold the rails firmly to the tie, I provide means consisting of a head 9, bolted at each end to the tie and adapted to fit against `uppersurface of ILhe'base ofthev rail and serve as auxiliaries to the' headsin holding the rail to the tie. Opposite tothe vheads are arranged lugs 13, that coact with theheads and are provided with inclined outer faces that engage the upper side of the base of the rail in a manner similar to the lugs aforesaid. These lugs 13 are bolted to the tie.

-From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and advantages of my in- .vention will be readily understood without requiring an extendedv explanation.

While the initial cost of the tie may be somewhat greater than thatof the ordinary wooden tie, it will be perceivedthat in'the `end great saving will be effected by its employment, inasmuch as it will last an indefi- Anite periodof time and will not be influenced by the changes in temperatureand Weather.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1. A railroad-tieconsisting of a shell composed of side sections, each section composed of a long and a short parallel strip connected by an end strip, said sections havingtheir ends connected in break-joint fashion', a bottom piece, a top piece, a filling of plastic material, and means for connecting the sections, substantially as set forth.

2. A railroad-tie consisting of a shell composed of side sections, each section composed of a long and a short parallel strip connected by an end strip, said sections having their ends connected in break-joint fashion, a bottom piece, atop piece, a filling of plastic material, and vertical and transverse bolts, the former connecting the top and bottom pieces and the latter the side sections, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of witnesses.

JOHN H. CONNELL. Witnesses:

BENJ. E. CoWL, H. M. TEST, E. P. BURKET.

IOO 

